Laboratory diagnostics (i.e., the total testing process) develops conventionally through a virtual loop, originally referred to as ''the brain to brain cycle'' by George Lundberg. Throughout this complex cycle, there is an inherent possibility that a mistake might occur. According to reliable data, preanalytical errors still account for nearly 60%-70% of all problems occurring in laboratory diagnostics, most of them attributable to mishandling procedures during collection, handling, preparing or storing the specimens. Although most of these would be ''intercepted'' before inappropriate reactions are taken, in nearly one fifth of the cases they can produce inappropriate investigations and unjustifiable increase in costs, while generating inappropriate clinical decisions and causing some unfortunate circumstances. Several steps have already been undertaken to increase awareness and establish a governance of this frequently overlooked aspect of the total testing process. Standardization and monitoring preanalytical variables is of foremost importance and is associated with the most efficient and well-organized laboratories, resulting in reduced operational costs and increased revenues. As such, this article is aimed at providing readers with significant updates on the total quality management of the preanalytical phase to endeavour further improvement for patient safety throughout this phase of the total testing process.

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Switchable mirrors 1±3 made of thin ®lms of the hydrides of yttrium (YH x ), lanthanum (LaH x ) or rare-earth metals exhibit spectacular changes in their optical properties as x is varied from 0 to 3. For example, a-YH x,0.23 is a shiny, hexagonally close-packed metal, b-YH 26d is a face-centred cubic metal with a blue tint in re¯ection and a small transparency window at red wavelengths, whereas hexagonally close-packed g-YH x.2.85 is a yellowish transparent semiconductor. Here we show that this concentration dependence of the optical properties, coupled with the high mobility of hydrogen in metals, offers the possibility of realtime visual observation of hydrogen migration in solids. We explore changes in the optical properties of yttrium ®lms in which hydrogen diffuses laterally owing to a large concentration gradient. The optical transmission pro®les along the length of the ®lm vary in such a way as to show that the formation of the various hydride phases is diffusion-controlled. We can also induce electromigration of hydrogen, which diffuses towards the anode when a current¯ows through the ®lm. Consequently, hydrogen in insulating YH 3-d behaves as a negative ion, in agreement with recent strong-electron-correlation theories 4,5 . This ability to manipulate the hydrogen distribution (and thus the optical properties) electrically might be useful for practical applications of these switchable mirrors.Diffusion of hydrogen in metals has attracted considerable attention 6±8

The aim of this study is to better understand why public officials and business employees engage in corruption. Insight into individual-level explanations for corruption was obtained with the aid of a self-report survey. The results suggest that the most indicative factors of whether or not individuals are corruption-prone are as follows: the moral conviction they have to refrain from corruption; perceptions of whether their colleagues approve of and engage in corruption; and difficulties experienced in complying with the rules on corruption. This result pattern was identical for public officials and business employees alike, and as a consequence, for both sides of corrupt acts. The latter indicates that the same motives may not only underlie corruption in both private and public sectors, but also the act of corruption in its active and passive forms. The results of the current study do not provide strong support for the assumption that economic considerations-expected costs and benefits-are crucial in predicting corruption. Based on the findings that norms and the perceived opportunity to comply are dominant factors in explaining corruption, this article focuses on the practical implications for the development of anti-corruption strategies within both public and private sectors.

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